"Best week out here!" & 1 Nephi 21:16

Well, it looks like we've come to the end of my first transfer in good ol' Virginia! Did it go by fast? Did it go by slow? Who's to say? I still am not quite sure! But what I do know is that this week was a pretty darn good week! Definitely the best week out here! So let's talk about some details! 

• We had exchanges this week! I got to be companions with Elder Nicholson for the day... who is maybe one of the funniest people I've met. He definitely makes the cut for the top 10 haha! It was an absolute blast! 
• Elder Hofhiens had a 3rd companion this week for about an hour. Her name was Ginger. It was actually a really cute cat that would follow us up to each door and then would walk with us to the next house haha! It was adorable! (See the video below).
• We had our second fire drill in Crystal Tower apartments. But hey, no one said cooking was easy. I think people are just trying to really get that smoky flavor in their food. (See the other video below).
• On Saturday we had exchanges again with the District Leader and his companion! I was companions with Elder Lawrence and it was an absolute blast! He is so cool! We had seriously such a fun time! I also got to teach the full restoration lesson for the first time and it was so awesome! We met some really really cool people! 
• Saturday night, Elder Lawrence and I went to a place called "King St" and it's maybe the coolest place ever! It has so much history... it was amazing! We walked on some original cobble stone from George Washington's time! We also passed George Washington's doctor's house. But there's also like tons and tons of people! And it has a gorgeous view of the Potomac River! It was the coolest place in the world and I can't wait to go back haha! 

Ladies and Gents, today's message was actually prompted to me. And I think it's a perfect spiritual thought for finishing up my first transfer! The question is, "How have you increased your faith in the mission field even during trying times?" First of all, I need to make something very clear. Goodness, I am still working on this! I am sort of a complainer… I feel like God probably had a complaint jar for me haha! Just kidding, He's the perfect person to complain to! But I'm just trying to say that sometimes I'm a stinker when I'm in trying times. I'm just not a huge fan! I've had my fair share of bumps in the road, but overall I have been completely spoiled in my life. I have lived in an amazing place my whole life, I have had an amazing friend group, my family is the bomb.com, my parents won the parents of the year award for the past 27 consecutive years, I met my very best friend at Utah State who was always there for me when I needed someone to talk to! So yes, I am a very spoiled guy! I just needed to get the fact off of my chest so you can decide if you want to take any advice from me. Now that we have that straightened out, I'll continue on the best I can. 

The scripture I chose for this week was 1 Nephi 21:16: "Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me." This is one of, if not my very favorite scriptures in the Book of Mormon, and it's my answer to the question. I've increased my faith while being on the mission, even through all of the trials, by trying my hardest to turn to the Savior at every moment. Something I have done my whole life is have a plan. I have a schedule I believe that's because or my amazing Student Council advisor in high school who swore by planners! In my life, I've taken this to the next level... my life has always been planned. I've known the next thing. I think one of the very hardest parts of the mission is continually surrendering my will to the will of the Lord. I make a plan, and then I try and put myself in a position where that plan can be interrupted because of meeting someone or feeling like we need to change it up. As I've served my mission, I've had trials with my mental health, I have seen loved ones go through trials that I don't understand, I have been pushed to do new things out of my comfort zone... even just continually doing something with little rest is a big change! There are lots of trials that we go through every day. So I would say that how I've increased my faith is by continually trying to just quit thinking! Quit trying to find all the reasons. On Tuesday, while on my exchange with Elder Nicholson, I continued asking questions: "What could I do better?!" or "Did I go out of order?" or "What should I have started with instead?" Eventually, after several questions, Elder Nicholson stopped me and said, "Elder, if ya quit thinking you're, gonna give God and the Holy Ghost the opportunity to do the talking. Don't worry so much, just start talking." I immediately felt a change! But it was weird! It went against everything I have ever done! But once I just stopped trying to put myself in front of the Savior, it went so much better! 

Now I need to reiterate that I am working on this! My faith just has so much room to grow! And there have been times where something has happened to me or often to someone I care about, and it just doesn't make sense. And I feel shook and confused as to WHY? I've felt that, and in those moments I think of this verse. The Savior says, "YOU are graven on the palms of my hands. Look at the nail wounds in my hand that were specifically for you. Your challenges, your walls, I know them. I've got you!" I love this quote by Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf: "Our Savior, the Good Shepherd, knows and loves you. He knows when you are lost, and He knows where you are. He knows your grief. Your silent pleadings. Your fears. Your tears. Because He loves you. He will find you. He will place you upon His shoulders, rejoicing." Our Savior loves us all so so much! He thought of each of us while he suffered the atonement. So in my moments of doubt, in my trials, through my hardships, I think of Christ, the person who knows exactly what I'm going through! And as I've done, that my faith has grown. My faith has grown in Him... that he knows what and why things are happening. So while I often don't understand everything, I understand the Savior's role in my life! As I study about him and his atonement every day, my faith grows increasingly. 

I'm grateful for this question that gave me the opportunity to reflect and actually think of my answer! To all those struggling, turn to the Savior! Lean on him. He will put you on his shoulders rejoicing because he LOVES you! He knows you, he knows your trials, he will help turn your stumbling block into a stepping block! Love you all! Have a great week! 

Invite: Go to Topical Guide and read under Jesus Christ! I promise if you do, you will grow closer to the Savior! 

我爱你们！再见，

司长老

Checking out the sights with Yuan Pei (Nelson)

I grilled for Elders Peterson & Lawrence... it was bomb!

Splits!

Say hello to Ginger!